Hey everyone. I'm a bryce artist that is looking into computer graphics schools here in the US, but most of them that i have looked into, Like GNOMON SCHOOL OF VISUAL EFFECTS and Expressions in California, want traditional art added in with the portfolio, but my experience with drawing and painting is not very good. I would like to know if anyone knows schools that an artist like me with just bryce experience could go to? Or at least schools that would more to my liking, in just doing 3d?

In doing 3D professionally, most companies will want a person to have overall art skills. They need to be able to sketch out their ideas before commtting to making something in 3D. But, then again, if your finished work truly shines, this may not matter as much. Big 3D houses can be divided into different areas; concept, model building, texturing, lighting, etc. But, then again, some are not. It ususally depends on the size of the company. Going into a traditional 3D course is a serious committment, and if you lean more towards 3D and not 2D, which it sounds like you do, you will be learning Maya, 3DSMax, etc. So, you will at some point have to/want to purchase the program. (with a student discount) So, lot of things to consider. There are smaller classes at community colleges, almost amywhere in the US, especially here in California that deal with high-end programs. They are short and to the point, and usually only cost around a $100-$300, so you may want to look into that. It's a good way to get your fet wet, and it may help you decide what direction you want to go. AgentSmith

Wish I had something here in NC like that. Good question Duke and good answer AS. MD

Thanks for your help! I live in Arizona, but some of the arts schools here are like mega expensive! And buying the programs are no problem. And as for living, i have limited money for that, so community colleges in califonia would be a bit hard. I was just wondering if you knew any other schools here in the US that would cater to a 3d artist like me.

Ah, time for my art institute recruitment speech :-) I go to the Art institute in Portland, OR and am very happy with it. There is atleast one in Arizona, most likely in Phoenix. The only experience I had with 3d was Bryce when I started but have branched out to 3dmax and a lil bit of Maya. It is a great school but the downside is the cost. I think it works out to about $57,000 tuition over a four year course (3 calendar yrs because it is year round school). And that price does not include books or extra supplies but I really think itll pay off in the end because we learn at a very fast rate here and will be pretty advanced in 3d knowledge by graduation. If you had any questions about it, just fire away

You can try looking for Community Colleges if you like on the WWW. I used (my fave search engine) www.dogpile.com, and found some in Arizona. I typed in "Arizona Community College 3D", if you want you can try that, but also/maybe use the name of towns around you, that may narrow it down. It's to bad "Bryce Camp" is no longer taking place, I myself would have loved to go! It took place in Sedona, Arizona. Lots of famous Brycers would go there, one being author of Real World Bryce 4, Susan Kitchens. Clay was there too. AS

Attached Link: Ringling School of Art & Design

Yeah Sedona Center for Arts and Technology was an awesome place at Sedona!!!! Might be a bit expensive, but I would check into it.

I know they had financial aid as well.

Attached Link: http://www.yc.edu/ychome.nsf/pages/home

Not to, by any means, bash a learning institution but the only reasons to go to school for 3D graphics would be A) Money-making and B)Money-making. Most big graphics houses have a VERY small percentage of college-trained artists. The reason for this is that, with the exception of a few schools for "the Big Dog" programs, the 3D industry moves too fast. The people making the most money in CGI are the innovators, the one pushing REALLY hard. Nearly all of them are self-trained. School costs a LOT of money, and by the time you are done, much of your knowledge might be obsolete, and also there's no guarantee a certificate will get you into a graphics job. BUT, your portfolio surely will...! Good luck finding the right school, in the meantime do some drawings, a couple of watercolors, and toss 'em in your portfolio!

I don't want to sound negative... But very few schools would educate towards bryce. It's not a high end 3d app.. There will never be a poster/movie/anything that uses bryce (unfortunately). Book illustrations maybe, but that would be hard work to find...

Well I don't think you sounded negative, Ornlu, but you are quite a bit off when you said that poster/movie/anything that uses Bryce. There are many, many professional works done entirely or minutely with Bryce. Most movies you've seen have Bryce in them somewhere. Remember the cool mountains in the Lord of the Rings? Most magazines hire Bryce artists because we'll do it for cheaper in less time. And I've seen countless posters that actually have STOCK Bryce materials in them. Not to mention the commercial art that I've done with the program, oftentimes in conjunction with Adobe stuff, but still, any tool can be "Professional". Just takes a paycheck to make it so. I myself have seen YOU, Ornlu, achieve better than high-end-app results with Bryce! So, chin up, man, it will be fine...! (bows)

On the contrary Bryce has been used professionally by many, from the BBC to many CG houses. It won't be used to render out the next great effect in a block buster, but it has been use to create terrains and such for movies,TV, and other broadcast productions. Your right your Bryce experience won't land you a job in a CG house, but I do know someone who because of her Bryce experience landed a position as a renderer for the company she works for. Of course she had to train herself in 3D Max on the job. Schools don't teach you how to be the next great effects artist, they teach you fundamentals. Which give you a foundation to build from. Fundamentals that are used in any software package, working on any platform. No matter where CG goes in the next 10 or 20 years, the stronger your foundation, the higher your building will grow.

My Mistake =P. I have never really seen that much public exposure for bryce, that's all I meant.

I use Bryce professionally in the movie industry, even over my Maya 5, it's just faster to do an environment background in, then slap that pup into Maya and Voila, instant movie junk:-)

Bryce camp Sedona - hey I was there too - teaching the treelab and texture mapping. In this economy financing another Brycecamp is a difficult thing, but we sure had fun at all of them. AS's idea of a community college is a great one - and every state has them - take it in your home state - no need to go to California. Good luck. Scott

Shadowdragonlord, I see what you are saying by your comment about the uselessness (for lack of better word) of learning 3d art at an institution. But I think you are off on a couple of things. By saying "by the time you are done, much of your knowledge might be obsolete". This is completely false. If you attend a good school, they keep up with the times and are always teaching you cutting edge techniques. And getting a degree will not guarantee you a job but again if you attend a good insititution, they will help you in finding a job after graduation. Good art schools also help you build amazing portfolios that will get you entry positions at most CGI locations. ...but you are right in saying that the reason to go there is to get money, money and more money :-) Me wants to get paid!

I know Valley College here at dirty old San Bernardino CA has a class in Bryce, but I don't really know just how much you can learn from it. I do agree with shadowdragonlord especially on: "The people making the most money in CGI are the innovators, the one pushing REALLY hard." That's so true! Also there's no escaping 2d art. 3d and 2d coexist interdependently IMO. You just can't have one without the other.

Aye, I agree with your statements Alvin Ylaya and Stephen Ray, too true! One should be flexible and able to create art from ANY energy, not just one tool alone. And Innovator, I stand corrected. You are right that most schools keep up on the times... I was thinking on a community college level (which I live right by) and not an art institute level, where they might have the funding for larger 3D endeavors. Green River Community College, here in Auburn where I live, does not have that kind of cash. (Yep, that's the same Green River where the Green River Killer's done his things for 20 years or so, may the Light save his soul) But, I'm fairly certain that since Corel has no certification in Bryce that there are a great many of us who could easily teach it at a community college level. I've heard tell of a certain someone using Bryce for his Intro to 3D Graphics class... Just an idea, but even in this thread there are enough Bryce Masters that would qualify for such a class, or something similar. Not to relegate Bryce to an "intro" level, but what program could possibly better introduce someone to the realm of 3D graphics!!!

Thank you all for your help! And thanks for the messages about the 2d help. I will be signing up for some drawing classes at the local community college here. I might take some painting courses too. Thanks all for your help! You have given me a new heading to look for schools and to continue my own self-taught work i do in bryce. Actually, to those who attended the Bryce Camp, I live in Sedona, but I missed the Bryce Camp cause of a family emergency at the time, but I can tell if I had been able to go, i would have had fun, and learned a bit more. Hopefully there will be another I can attend! Again, Thank You all for your help!

One thing to try, might help you merge the 3D and 2D worlds a bit, is scanning some drawings and whatnot, and inserting them into a Bryce scene! It's a lot of fun, too... I make renders of my son on Ares, the beach, volcanos... (smiles)

Attached Link: Digital Art Schools